Woman With PTSD And Rescue Wolf Help Each Other Heal While Learning To Trust Others Again

Ashley Maisano

By Ashley Maisano

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28-year-old Sarah Varley was left traumatized after she was attacked and raped when she was 19 years old. Her anxiety coupled with post-traumatic stress disorder that she developed from the incident caused her to turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. Her health began to deteriorate, and her weight dropped to just 91 pounds.

She desperately needed to find a way to save herself. That’s when she began volunteering at her cousin’s wolf/wolf-dog sanctuary in New Hampshire. From that point on, her healing began.

Sarah Varley

That’s when she met a female wolf named Lakomi, who was found roaming around a neighborhood in Rhode Island three years ago. She was wearing a harness that was meant for a small puppy, which was painfully embedded into her skin.

Sarah Varley

Lakomi’s injuries have since healed while at the sanctuary, but her spirit was still wounded. Much like Varley, Lakomi had major trust issues. Not only did Lakomi help Varley heal, but Varley played a big part in helping Lakomi heal as well. Varley spent a lot of time with the whole wolf pack and really enjoyed her time with them.

Sarah Varley

“In caring for an animal who had been hurt as well and had no reason to trust me, I learned that trust can be earned,” Varley told USA Today. “And I started to judge myself less harshly. If a predator like this can be injured, then I’m not weak for hurting as well.”

Sarah Varley

Lakomi has also learned to trust humans, and the interactions have been beneficial for her and the other wolves there. Varley hopes to share her experience with others who are dealing with mental health issues.

Growing up, Ashley always had a passion for writing. After receiving her Bachelor's in Journalism from Stony Brook University, she now uses that passion to write about the thing she loves most in this world: animals! When she isn't writing, you can find her curled up on the couch with a kindle in her hands and her Guinea Pigs on her lap.